Video review HERE.
(Description taken from Cigar-Coop.com website)
2019 will mark the 175th of H. Upmann, the brand founded by Herman Upmann in Cuba and the 2018 IPCPR Trade Show, Altadis U.S.A. is releasing a cigar to commemorate the occasion called the H. Upmann Connecticut Grupo de Maestros. It’s a cigar that not only pays homage to the brand, but also has a very contemporary kick to it.
The H. Upmann Connecticut Grupo de Maestros is a cigar that was spearheaded by Altadis Director of Product Capability Rafael Nodal in conjunction with Altadis’ famed Grupo de Maestros team of cigar makers. The blend for the H. Upmann Connecticut consists of an Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed wrapper over a Dominican binder and filler. The cigar is finished with a maduro cap. Production is out of the Dominican Republic at the Tabacalera de Garcia factory in La Romana.
The cigar is also intended to be a bolder Connecticut Shade offering in the Altadis portfolio. According to a report by Cigar Aficionado, the boldness stems from the fact it contains Pilotico tobacco. It’s a seed varietal grown by the Mendez family that Altadis has used before – most notably on the Montecristo Pilotico Pepe Mendez.
It was in 1844 when Herman Upmann, a banker from Germany, founded the H. Upmann brand. He had gone to Havana, Cuba that year and invested in a cigar factory and that became the genesis for the H. Upmann brand.
Blend Profile
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic (Tabacalera de Garcia)
Vitolas Available
Robusto: 5 x 52
Toro: 6 x 50 REVIEWED TODAY
Belicoso: 6 1/8 x 52
Churchill: 6 3/4 x 48
The cigar is a golden brown and well made. It has a nice feel in the hand. The cap is finished with a maduro cap.
The test draw after cutting the cap was pretty good but slightly firm. The initial flavors were a very tangy, almost citrus-like flavor but I'll go with a tangy cedar, brown sugar, cinnamon, white chocolate, and a light black coffee base. There was black pepper which I rated at 7 1/2. The cigar is very sweet and tangy with the smoothness from white chocolate.
At the first third (28 minutes) the cigar is still very tangy. Even though it has no Nicaraguan tobacco this is very close to a sweet, tangy orange citrus, much like the candy-like baby aspirin flavor. The added sweet flavors of brown sugar, cinnamon, and white chocolate make this a very nice, sweet cigar. The coffee is a background flavor and not that noticeable at this point. The cigar is medium bodied leaning toward medium to full. The finish is a peppery white chocolate with some influence from the tangy cedar. The cigar is very good. I rated the first third at 92.
At the second third (1 hour 3 minutes) the only thing that has changed is the strength. I'd say it's now medium to full bodied. And, the black coffee notes are more noticeable now. They do not hurt the cigar at all. In fact, they help round out the flavors and give it more balance. I love the candy-like baby aspirin flavor combined with the brown sugar, cinnamon, and white chocolate. I moved the second third score up to a 93.
The cigar lasted 1 hour 36 minutes. A very nice burn time. Not much changed in the final third. A little more of the white chocolate notes came out. It's still medium to full bodied and the finish is unchanged. This is not a typical Connecticut cigar, which for me is nice. You have fantastic sweet flavors and some strength. Rafael Nodal did a great job with this cigar. The final third is also rated at 93. These are on shelves now and should be on your must-try list. You can purchase these cigars HERE.
Overall Score: 93 (92.67)
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